The Prime Minister has made a big new move after mounting pressure to expand the scope of the Bondi terror attack probe.
EXCLUSIVE
Anthony Albanese is in talks with the NSW Premier Chris Minns to expand the proposed NSW royal commission into a combined state-commonwealth probe, bowing to weeks of political pressure.
In a political backflip designed to end the relentless pressure to hold a federal inquiry, the Prime Minister is considering combining forces with the previously announced NSW royal commission in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks.
News.com.au has confirmed that this combined probe is one of the options being canvassed after another meeting of the national security committee of cabinet on Wednesday morning.
One of the major weaknesses of holding a NSW royal commission is that it cannot directly investigate or compel evidence from the Commonwealth, its institutions, or officers beyond its jurisdiction with the full force of a federal inquiry.
The power of a state royal commission is limited to matters within the legislative responsibility of New South Wales.
Commonwealth Royal Commissions, established under the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth), can only inquire into matters that relate to the Commonwealth’s responsibilities.
Source: stupid_mistake__101
3 Comments
Better include the media into it as we’ll soon discover they are a massive part of the problem.
Shouldn’t need to include Federal police and Intelligence agencies given its already got an independent review.
It still won’t be deemed enough by the MSM and LNP.
Also I bet you Josh Frydenberg will absolutely be doing PR the rest of the week about how Albo is ignoring anti-semitism in Melbourne and how it doesn’t care about all Jews, etc.
I must admit all of this coverage has made me much less supportive of a Royal Commission than what I was immediately after the attack. I still have no problem with a Royal Commission being called but it’s clear that much of the media reporting on this issue has been more focused on grinding political axes rather than the genuine concern over the safety of the Jewish community, national security, community cohesion and public safety more broadly.
It’s become clear that nothing will satisfy many political actors and activists calling for a Royal Commission. Albo will cave but then they’ll complain about the scope of the terms of reference. Then they’ll complain that the focus should only be on the extreme left (we’re seeing this argument being prime already). Then they’ll conflate hearings and sections of the report involving intelligence agencies that are sealed for legal reasons as “Albo has something to hide.” It will never be enough. What many of the partisan axe grinders are after isn’t a real solution but a gravy train of spoon fed grievances.
The end result is a more cynical, fatigued and divided electorate. I’m increasingly suspecting that is a lot of the whole point.